Internal-combustion turbine.



1?. KBAUS E, INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT 10, 1907 Patented Apr. 20 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

J U. 00' 0 0 o o o kw 5 Ed Q a m 3% QM. QR? Qt kw I; N? r i A 00 0 0 0 10 o g 1 T1151 1 m II. 1 v R QR.

WITNESSES By A TTOHNE YS P. KRAUSE. v INTEBNALCOMBUSTION TURBINE. APPLIOATION FILED 0013,10, 1907.

. Patented- Apr. 20,1909.

WITNESSES i rum/r05 W [-F fazzljz zuaae ATTORNEYS P. KRAUSE I INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1907.

918,679. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

5 snnsws snmzr 4.

INVENTOH Pad Zffra: zw'e P. KRAUSE.

INTBBNALICOMBUSTION TURBINE. 'APPLIOATION rum) 00m. 10, 1907.

91 8,679. Patented Apr. 20, 1909. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 6..

7 mu m9 mi fauZJfraao A7TOHNEYS UNITED STATES rATENT OF ICE,

PAUL KRAUSE, or BABYLo'N, NEW YORK."

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION TURBINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'itknown that-I, PAUL KRAUSE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Babylon, in the county of Suffolk and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Ima roved Internal -Combusti'on Turbine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. g

This invention relates to certain improvements in turbines, and more particularly 'to special construction whereby successive charges of an explosive mixture are ignited and the'resulting gases under high ressure are delivered into engagement with t e vanes or blades of the turbine.

The specific construction illustrated in- ,volves certainimprovements over the revious construction illustrated in my atent Number 880,458, granted February 25, 1908, such im rovements relating more articularly to he valve, means for control ing the same, and the means for compressingthe explosive charge and, delivering itto the turine roper.--

Re erence is to be had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fi s. 2, 3 and 4 are successively portions of a longitudinal section through the engine shown in Fig.. 1 Fig. 5 is an enlarged section similar to the left-hand portion of Fig 2, but showing the parts in the position they occupy at the beginning of the suction stroke of the compressor and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in the position they occupy at the beginning of the compression stroke.

In the improved turbine illustrated in the accompanying drawings I employ an inner casing 10 and an outer casing 11 spaced, apart to form an annular chamber therebetween, and each of the casings carries a plurality of rows of blades or vanes 12 and 13 extending into this annular chamber and adapted to be engaged by the high ressure gases as they move longitudinally o the casings. the casings are preferably so mounted as to rotate, theirrotation being in opposite directions. 7

1 provided with a ball bearing-race-ring 14, at

As illustrated, the outer casing 11 is one end thereof, spaced from a stationary Specification of Letters Patent. I Application filedfletober 1o, 190%. Serial no. 396,758

Both of ratent aii ra-ao, 1909.

race-rin 15 by a plurality of rows of balls so dispose as to resist end thrust on the casing in either direction, as well as tosupport the end of the casing. At-the opposite end of the casing it is also mounted in ball bearings 16, which need not necessarily be constructed to resist end thrust. I The inner end of the inner casing 10 terminates adjacent the inlet end of the outer casing 11 and is held concentric therewith by suitable ball bearings. As

shown the inlet end of the casing 11 carries a spider having a central hub 17 extending into the end of the inner casing and operating to support the same, and also preventing the admission of the high pressure gases to the interior of the inner casing. The inner casing extends beyond the outer casing atthe outlet "end. of the latter and carries a ball:

bearing race-ring "18 s aced from suitable stationary race-rlngs 19 y anti-friction balls to resist end thrust upon the inner casing and to support the end thereof.

The outer race-ring of both sets of ball bearings of the outer casing and of the bearing at the outer end of the inner casin are preferably mounted in a stationary ske eton shaft also carries a gear 24 internieshing with a gear 25, in turn meshing with,- a gear 26 carried by the inner casing. The shaft 23 is thus connected by chains of gears to both casings, the number of gears being different, whereby the opposite direction of rotation is brought about: Adjacent this gearing is an outlet for the high pressure gases, said outletpreferably including a radial flange 27 car-- ried by the inner casing to prevent the escape of the gases against one chain of gears, and a second radial flange 28 carried by the outer casing to prevent the contact of the gases with the other chain of gears and the ball bearings 16. Both 'fianges preferably includein their construction asbestos or other suitable non-heat conducting material.

If desired, one of the flanges may be pro- .vided with an annular perforated plate 29,

extending to a point adjacent the other flange, or, if desired, this annular plate may be from both of the'fianges and be supported by the skeleton frame 20. The outer end of the inner casing extends beyond the ball bearing support thereof and is keyed to a largedrum 30 operating as a fly wheel and also constituting means for operating the piston of the compressor and operating the valve controlling the flow of gas from the compressor to the blades of the turbine.

The compression cylinder 31 is'preferably rigidly. connected to the inlet end of the outer casing '11, and communication between the two is controlled by a longitudinally-movable valve 32. This valve is carfed by a valve stem'33 extending through he hub 17 and through the inner casing,

. said hub being provided with arecess adapted other end-of which-extends to a point in for the reception of the valve when the latter is opened to the limiting position. l/Vith the valve open the as may flow directly from the interior of t hecompression cylinder to the annular space between the casings, as will be noted from Fig. 3. The valve-operating rod. 33 extends the full length of the casing to the interior of the drum 30, and is there supported by a suitable collar 34 connected to the end of the inner casing. For

opening the valve I rely upon the excessive pressure within the compression cylinder at the time of the ignitionof the gas, but provide special mechanism for normally holding the valve closed.

As shown, a branch 35 of the skeleton frame extends past the drum 30, and is bent around to extend into the interior thereof from the outer side. a radially-disposed lever 36, one end of which carries a roller 37 engaging in a groove 38 in the inner surface of the drum and the alinement with the valve rod 33. The lever does not engage directly with the end of the valve rod but is connected thereto by resilientco'nnections, whereby the valve 32 may open at the instant of the explosion irresp'ective of the lever 36 in case of premature explosion. These resilient connections preferably include a spring arm 39, one end of which is rigidly, connected to the leyer and the' other end'of which presses against the end of the valve rod. To reinforce the spring arm I provide a spring plunger 40 in direct alinement with the end of the valve rod and normally held against the side of the spring lever by a coil spring 41. The combined action of the spring arm and the spring-pressed plunger holds the valve 32 firmly against its seat when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 4. At the proper time in the rotation of the drum, an offset in the groove 38 removes the lever and its re silient connections fronrengagement with the valve rod, and the valve may freely open. The explosion in the compression cylinder and the movement of the lever 36 are normally simultaneous, the resilient connec- This branch supports 7 tions merely serving to permit an opening of the valve'in case of an explosion before the lever 36 recedesj As previously stated, the com ression cyl inder 31 isrigidly connected to t e outer cas operating rods 44, extending longitudinallyof the engine and each having one end thereof flattened to slide in a corresponding guide 45, and having a roller for engagement in a cam groove in the surface of the drum. The two grooves may be so disposed as not to .cross each other, 'or one roller 46 may be, made wide and shallow, while the other roller 47 may be made narrow and deep, so that neither roller can enter the groove of the other roller should the .two grooves cross. The opposite end of each rod 44 is connected to a cross head 48 in engagement with the The piston is rigidly connected to a,

As shown,

piston rod- 43 and, preferably separated therefrom by two rows of anti-friction balls disposed upon opposite sides of a flange 49 carried by the piston rod. As the drum 30 rotates, the cam grooves thereof engage with the rollers 46 and 47 to move the two rods 44 back and forth to operate the piston within the compression chamber, but permitting the piston and piston rod to freely rotate within the cross head 4.

The piston rod is hollow and serves as a means for supplying the explosive mixture to the compression chamber, the inner end of the piston rod being provided with a valve 50 controlling the connection between the interior of the piston rod and the interior of I the cylinder. v piston rod it extends through two packing boxes at the ends of a sleeve 51. Thesleeve and packing boxes are preferably supported by transverse members 52, constituting a Adjacent the outer end of the part of the skeleton frame 20 and serving as means for supporting the hollow piston rod.

A suitable inlet pipe 52 connects the sleeve 51 to any suitable source of explosive mixture, and the portion of the piston rod within.-

the sleeve is' provided with perforations whereby the explosive mixture may gain access to the interior of the piston rod.

Within the piston rod and beyond the per- .forations, there is provided a partition 54 preventing the explosive mixture from passing out at the rear end of the rod.

The valve 50 is connected to a valverod 55 extending longitudinally of the hollow piston "rodTfill lft i h na-ting'adjacent the Outer. e; of the latter 1 Thei'valve'rod'is su ported in; any. suitable armor and extends through, th ge i ,e qv "r ierreditb E r he Y6 j 3$ d here c fi d 'wl ppn t e u nd nv I engage i'neht with' said partition and. afshoulg'der rewer '57 onthe valve-rod Theouterend ofthe piston" rodcar'ries means --.for-v en,-.. =10 g n with the valverod 55. to open the valve5'0 and hold it open during the outward niovementfof the piston; and-1 .0; release the fijifyalve rod and permit the valveetofelose dur- Ting the return.- inovjenientnqffthe piston;

'1*espondirigv contact" 66 supported by This mechanisin, illnstifatedfonan'enlarged scale in Fi s. and '6; involves-a -lever558 ivot'ed in t its outer end and-ext'ending, diametrically; across the piston rod and alsoexten'ding out i ward a, shortdistan'ce therefronrn The inner endof the lever is normally in'engagernent with the end of the valve .rod, andthe outer I end of the lever is adapted to engage with a portion of'one of the transverse supports 52' of the skeletonframe when the piston. is moved inward to nearlytits limitingposition. The transverse su port 52 -isilhistrateclgras being provided wit an annularfiange 59;:so disposed that with the'pis'tonin its innermost position, the inner endof the lever-'58 will be forcedstillfarther and open the valve t inwardly into the cylinder. r Ad'acent the innerend of the lever 58,' 4, thereis pi'ovided-.-a catch 60 normally pressed. 'inwardly into the path of 'saidlever by the action, of asuitabIes ring; The inner end of the "catch is beveled, so. that when the lever is moved to the position indicated in Eii. 5," it cannot return, andfthe'valve 50 is old o ei ljhgainst' the act'ionlof the spring 56. e 5 piston then moves outwardly- -with; the valveopen and draws in a' 'charge through, 'the inlet pipe 53 and hollow pistorirod, the'piston reaches the outer end of its stroke, mechanism engages with the catch .to'iivithdrawthe sameand releasethe lever 58, whereupon the spring 56 closes the valve. 'This releas ngmechanisni preferably includes"- 7 agransvei's'e rnember 61, also constituting a, 50'. port onof the. skeleton frame and haVing anapni lar flange 62' concentricwith' the, piston: rode Adjacent the'outer end of the spring-* pressed cat el tip is a pin 63.normallyheld n 1 itsfouterr'gio'st'position by a spring 64;and

n "55 havinga carnsurface in engagement with a portion ofthe catchfto wit draw, the;s'ame. V! th the piston rorl inits outermostposition, nu nk-Fi e nd thep n' en:

7 gages the annular flange ;.62 'and-: forces 64., This Iwithdraws the-catch 601tto- ".lhe piston'in its niovementitravels the] thrtlgle gt 0f "the y l ndert and; h i w tit-"stroke serves the double purpose of com-"- at the instant the valve *32' is-opened'fland ewall-of the piStOnrodedjacent 1 theis'lide 67 is moved downwardly to theposition illustrated in Fig. 2, reaching-said po-i much stronger and better supported slide cooling the rrotatin g onand the rotating tn'rbinic -trated, I have provided the 1n inwardly against the aetion ofithejlv a; ing n Q rfa n hladesi operating-toil) i'lh'eratetthe lever. 5 8,v and the valve 50 -c1os,es -r I I I avhilethetwo arerot'eiti igw h pressing theexplosive char e and seaven" mg l the exhaustgasL The exp oslo'n takes aee in: thetceinpression cylinder whfeii the piston stroke to remove-all ofthese gases iromthe cylinder. -'."'T he explosiof is tuned to oceur' this explosion may be bronght about'hy any suitable igniter,;as;*'lfor instance, a spark plug 65,}the1cixcuit beiiig closed by the engage;

ment of a 'hrush'on'the spark plu'gand'a coir! frame. 1'

'While the piston is makin its compression stroke and is being moved-forward by the;

collar 49, the explosion oceu'ri At' 'this tirne I bring into'operatio'n auxiliaiy mechanism for resisting end thrust and preventingthe' return movement of the piston. This meehanisni preferably incltides a slide "67transverselymovablein a transverse merhher 68 rigid with the skeletonfrarne and adaptedto -be nioved-into'engageinent with-the rear end f of the piston rod at the 'i-nstant ofIeXpIoSidh.

The 'slide fti7 is firmly supported agains't l -movement' 'in the direction; of the. movement of the piston rod, and carries a ball 69 or 95. othen anti-friction .means for engaging the eiikgl of the piston rod. The outer end of the slide carries a pin 70 extending-into the theplate is operated by a rod- 72'extending 'longitudinally'of the engine arid having a I I rollerengaging in a cam groove 73 of an aux iliary drum .74 carried by the main druni 30.- [Dhe slide 67 normallyoccupies' aposition out of the path of the piston rodyas'illustrated in Figs. 5 and. 6; but while the piston rod is niorving inwardly on-the compression stroke;

Slition at the instant-the piston rod has passed] and at the instant the explosion occurs;

While .the'piston:isjcompleting its stroke, the slide 67 is moved out ofthe path. and permits 11 athe-freemovement offthe-pistonrod. Thus, the shock of the pistonat the time of the ex plosion,. which would normally be borne by 1 p the .fiange149', is almost'entirelyhorne'b v Any suitable i-meens may he provided f y iession cy mder-with'a pluralityhirhdiftlly dispose We 1' tudinally of both the cylinder and H v hftheslc fan 'b lades iiiiiy h'tfijoibiiifidr sired, for theturhine casing.

longitudinally of said cylinder and adapted to compress an explosive charge therein; and means for igniting said charge.

2. In combination, a rotatable turbine cas-, ing, a combustion chamber in alinement therewith and rigidly connected thereto, means for igniting an explosive charge within said chamber, and radially-disposed fan blades carried by said chamber and adapted to create a circulation of air in engagement with the outer surface thereof.

3. In combination, a rotatable turbine casing, a rotatable combustion chamber in alinement therewith and rigidly connected thereto, a valve for controlling the communication between the chamber and the casing, means for delivering an explosive charge'to said chamber, and a plurality of radially-disposed fan blades adapted to create a circulation of'air over saidchamber and said casing.

4. In combination, means for compressing an explosive charge, including a compression I chamber, a piston movable therein, means for op'er'atin said piston, means for igniting the charge within said chamber and while the piston is intermediate the ends ofits stroke, and means separate from said piston-moving meansand operable to' resist the return movement of the piston at the time of the explosion, said cylinder being scavenged by the completing of the piston stroke after the explosion. g

5. In combination, means for compressing an explosive charge, including a compression chamber and a movable piston, means forigniting thev charge within said chamber'and while the piston is intermediate the ends of its stroke, a piston, rod connected to said piston, and means adapted to intermittently engage with said piston rod and :resist the of the explosion.

6. In combination, means for compressing an explosive charge, including a compression chamber and a movable piston, means for igniting the charge within'said chamber and while the piston is intermediate the ends of return movementof the piston at the time it's stroke, a piston rod connected to said piston, and means adapted to intermittently engage with said piston rod and resist the return movement of the pistonv at the time of the explosion, said means including "a member'movable transversely of the path of the piston. 5

' 7. In combination, means for compressing an explosive charge, including a compression chamber, a piston movable therein, a hollow piston .rod connected to said piston .and adapted to communicate with said compression chamber, a valve for controlling the passage lilll'0 gll said piston rod, means for locking said va ve in its 0 en position durin each alternate stroke of tiie iston and locki it in its closed position uring the remaining strokes, and means for igniting the explosive charge within said chamber. V

8. In combination,- means for compressing an explosivepharge, including a compression cham means .within. said chamber for igniting the charge, rotatable means operated by the products of'combustion, means connecting said rotatable means to said piston for operating the-latter, and auxiliary means intermittently operating to resist the return movement of the piston at the time of the explosion and intermediate the ends of the piston stroke.

9. In combination, two concentric casings, spaced apart to form an annular cham-' ber tlierebetween, vanes or blades carried by said casings and extending into said annular space, a combustion chamber communicating. with said space, avalve for controllin the escape of gas from said chamber to saic annular s ace, a valverod connected to said valve anc extending through said inner, casing, means carried by said inner casing adjacent its outer end and presenting a cam surface, and means engaging with said surface and with said valve rod for operating said valve.

er and a piston movable therein,

ioo

10. In combination, two concentric casings spaced apart to form an annular chamber therebetween, vanes or blades carried by said casing and extending into said annular space, a combustion chamber communicating with said space, a valve for controllin the escape of gas from said chamber to sai annular s ace, a valve rod-connected to said valve an extending throu b said inner casing, a drum'carried by sai innercasing adjacent its outer end and havin a cam groove and means engagin with said surface and with said valverod ior operating said valve. 11. In combination, two concentric cas; ings spacedapart to form an annular chaniber therebetween, vanes or blades carried by said casing and extending into said annular space,- a combustion chamber commun cating with said space, a valve for controlling the escape of gas from said chamber to sai annular s ace, avalve rod connected to said valve MK extending throu h said inner cas+ ing, a drum carried by sai inner casing adjacent its outer end and having a cam groove, and a pivoted lever having one end thereof operated by said cam groove and having the opposite end thereof operatively connected to said valve rod. 1 12. In combination, two concentric casizs ings spaced apart to form an annular'chfamber therebetween, vanes or bladescarried by said casing and extending into said annular space, a combustion chamber communicatingwith said space, a valve for controlling the escape of gas from. saidchamber to said annular space, a valve rod connected to said valve and extending through said inner cas ing, a drum carried by said inner casing adjacent its outer end and having1 a cam groove, a pivoted lever having one en thereof in engageinent with said cam groove, and resilicombustion chamber in alinement with said casings and delivering to'said annular space, a valve for controlling the flow of gases fromsaid chamber-t0 said s ace, a valve-operatedthe mner casing, a

rod extending Fthroug drum connected to the end of said inner casing and presenting aplurality ofl'cam grooves means in engagement with lone of said plosive charge Within said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name-to this spec'ificationin the presence. of two subscribing Witnesses.

PAUL KRAUSEQ- Witnesses: I

J OSEPH COVERT, HENRIG KROUSE.

grooves foroperating .s'aid' 'valve rod, and ,n1LI1S havingoperative engagement in the other of said grooves forcompressmg the ex- 

